A base which became the most prominent symbol of the United Kingdoms 'Maginot mentality' along the border of the six counties will close by the end of the month.

Troops of the Black Watch will leave the Army base in Crossmaglen, South Armagh, bringing to an end a thirty year military presence by the British Army of what became by the 1980s an increasingly beleaguered, isolated and futile garrison. Even hardened regiments of the British Army came to dread postings to the South Armagh base.

During the course of its life over thirty police and British soldiers died and many volunteers of the Irish Republican Army were also killed trying to force the British out of their country.

The military presence was from the start mean-spirited and there was little success or attempt by the British to win 'hearts and minds' of a population, the majority of whom saw the military presence as an occupation,

The maintenance of the facility was also by the late 1980s and early 1990s problematic. Supply by road had long been abandoned and though the British Army thought that their logistical lifeline by helicopter was secure. Óglaigh na hÉireann (the IRA) successfully fought several battles with British Army Air Corps units using heavy machine guns as anti aircraft weapons. This period challenged the British Army's ability to operate at will in the Louth/Armagh border area and their garrisons became even more beleaguered.

In 1994 the Celtic League published a centre spread in the mainstream republican newspaper "An Phoblacht". With the same article in Republican Sinn Féin's journal, "Saoirse", we set out in detail the difficulties the British garrison were having in the border areas where travel by road by the military was impossible. We indicated that the helicopter logistics tight-rope which supplied the border garrisons was about to be severed. Paradoxically, the British Army and its border garrisons were 'saved by the bell' as the (original) cease-fire was declared.

The Celtic League repeatedly questioned the military presence in Ireland, calling for greater openness about the psychological and physical impact on the health of those people, particularly those who had to live in close proximity to bases like that at Crossmaglan. We also questioned the long term environmental damage these poorly constructed and maintained bases posed. We forced the Ministry of Defence to admit environmental pollution of several sites particularly the helicopter base at Bessbrook which became the most active civil or military helicopter facility in Europe.

Now the British Army are finally leaving. Although the issue of Britain's military presence in Ireland is still 'the elephant in the room' with the United Kingdom's declared aim to continue to have a 'garrison' on five thousands troops based in the six counties.

The people of South Armagh can look forward to a future without the omnipresence of Britain's Military - how long before the whole of Ireland is rid of this scourge is another matter!

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

31/03/07

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